Chapter 123: Pre-Match Focus
Friday, August 6, 2010
Four days had passed since the squad's last grueling 11v11 match.
Now, on the night before Crawley's League One opener, the team assembled at The George Hotel, a charming but somewhat aged establishment on the outskirts of town.
The air was thick with the scent of polished wood and the hint of an approaching storm.
Niels drove into the hotel's gravel lot as the afternoon sky turned darker.
His pickup's tires crunched softly under the weight of the moment, tomorrow's showdown with Charlton looming large, tightening in his chest like a knot.
His pulse quickened, a mix of nerves and adrenaline, with the first whistle only hours away, a moment that could set the tone for the entire season.
Today was about sharpening the squad's focus briefing them on tactics, stoking their spirit, and forging a bond to carry them through the fight.
With Pogba and Freeman starting to click, this day could solidify Crawley's resolve.
